Autism Across The Age Span

"Autism as one of the top priorities for the health care focus for the coming years", says President Obama. What once was a relatively rare condition, just 30 years ago, now affects (according to the latest government statistics) at least 1 in 150 children in the United States (and equal numbers in most countries around the world that actually track similarly). Autism is finally recognized as the fastest growing disability on the planet. We, at the PNP Center, have repeatedly heard from parents how tragic the Autism challenge is for their child as well to the family's life plans, but the most confusing and even damaging, is often parents feel left to themselves to determine resources available to them. The consistent story has been that their doctor would give the diagnosis of "Autism Spectrum" and then offer no real direction or place to start. Parents and professionals alike deserve and urgently need a direction on what to do as the next step. The impact of the diagnosis is hard enough to digest, but to navigate for understanding can be overwhelming.

Finding the compass through the current of chaos and destructive paths. The nature and definition of Autism has only recently received serious study in mental health. Autism was first described by a physician at Johns Hopkins University in the 1940s. Not until the last 13 years has any clinical understanding of Autism been researched in a contemporary perspective. On the professional level, as well as for the layman, this complicated field of understanding is really still in the dark ages. In addition to the lack of understanding of what constitutes Autism treatment among the professionals, even the latest literature admits that “no accurate biological measurement” is being used, leaving clinical judgment as the only golden standard as of now.

The parent(s) of a child diagnosed with Autism faces, not only the greatest challenge to parenthood, but a chaotic road to find support or guidance. Parents need a plan and direction.
"Autism as one of the top priorities for the health care focus for the coming years", says President Obama. What once was a relatively rare condition, just 30 years ago, now affects (according to the latest government statistics) at least 1 in 150 children in the United States (and equal numbers in most countries around the world that actually track similarly). Autism is finally recognized as the fastest growing disability on the planet. We, at the PNP Center, have repeatedly heard from parents how tragic the Autism challenge is for their child as well to the family's life plans, but the most confusing and even damaging, is often parents feel left to themselves to determine resources available to them. The consistent story has been that their doctor would give the diagnosis of "Autism Spectrum" and then offer no real direction or place to start. Parents and professionals alike deserve and urgently need a direction on what to do as the next step. The impact of the diagnosis is hard enough to digest, but to navigate for understanding can be overwhelming.

Finding the compass through the current of chaos and destructive paths. The nature and definition of Autism has only recently received serious study in mental health. Autism was first described by a physician at Johns Hopkins University in the 1940s. Not until the last 13 years has any clinical understanding of Autism been researched in a contemporary perspective. On the professional level, as well as for the layman, this complicated field of understanding is really still in the dark ages. In addition to the lack of understanding of what constitutes Autism treatment among the professionals, even the latest literature admits that “no accurate biological measurement” is being used, leaving clinical judgment as the only golden standard as of now.

The parent(s) of a child diagnosed with Autism faces, not only the greatest challenge to parenthood, but a chaotic road to find support or guidance. Parents need a plan and direction.
Out of chaos to a plan:
The  PNP Center, through it's study over 15 years, finds many symptoms are "brain-based" and behavior is related to how the brain is "wired" - the neurological connections. The most often noted symptoms of Autism include regressed social skills, even to the point of avoidance of any interaction. Neurological, psychological, and intellectual dimensions need to be assessed in order to design an effective treatment plan. Based on the principles of brain plasticity and how neurological processes seek order for development and complexity, the PNP Center has created an assessment plan to understand the nature of the child’s challenges, to understand and emphasize their strengths, and to customize a treatment program for maximum progress in neurocognitive and emotional development. Sensory integration challenges, such as sensitivities to light, sound, texture, and/or touch are common and also need to be included in the assessment and treatment paradigms.
Autism Awareness Concept — Lewisville, TX — The Lawlis Peavey PNP Center
  • Step One

    First, set of assessments that offers scientific foundation for defining strengths and challenges relative to Autism is the first place to start. This step is important to provide a baseline for accountability and to determine what specific methods of treatment will be effective.


    These include, but not exclusive to the following:


    Brain mapping, using sophisticated EEG for digital analysis, provides the basis for neurological assessment. Finding the neurological functions strengths and challenges provides the basis for understanding the conscious experience of the child and helps specify what barriers need to be crossed. 


    Sensory Competencies are critical to a child in orientation to his/her world. Often a child on the Autism Spectrum is easily overwhelmed in new, novel, or overstimulating events, circumstances, or places due to imbalances in sensory processing of information. For instance, 70 percent of information processing is primarily through one's visual sense; and when this is out-of-balance information presented visually can be very anxiety producing. Well founded that sensory integration is consistent with Autistic behavior, this particular set of issues have to be defined early.


    Brain Toxicities have been a highly controversial topic with Autism. The American Psychological Association has supported the devastating impact on brain function of heavy metals and other elements. Therefore, the PNP Center considers these assessments as important, especially if the existences of such elements do exist in the fatty tissues of the brain.


    Identifying Nutrition Imbalances and Food Sensitivities can be especially helpful in brain healing or can actually serve to harm the brain and neurocognitive processing. The metabolism process is especially critical to brain development and should be a source of assessment.


    Craniosacral Evaluation can be a very powerful tool in Autism because of the structure in which the brain and spine reside. The literature supports the need to consider the possibility for adjustment therapy to be helpful, although not a source for the development of the disorder itself.

  • Step Two

    Next, although not necessarily scheduled as a second order, is the critical understanding of the way the child responds to the challenges of Autism. A general term for this array of adjustment has been termed:


    “Psychological Reactions and Adjustment” can include the following:


    Stress is probably the greatest hurdle for an Autistic child. He/she is often in pain or overwhelm from the stimulation of the interactions going on around him and his/her over -sensitive or discordant senses. The child with Autism cannot often understand what is being asked of him and can be disoriented in space. His/her “tantrums” are more from fear than attempts of manipulation or gaining control. He/she is usually frightened and crying for help. What we have to do is find ways to calm him/her and ways for him/her to calm him/herself.


    Sensory Integration has been discussed above for vision, but it can also pertain to auditory, taste, vestibular, and tactile senses as well. The assessment will relate to the nature of sensory integration problems and will call for treatment modalities around these needs.


    Talent and Personality are important for a variety of reasons. First, no two people are alike and each Autistic child has his/her own personality traits to use. Second, a child needs to learn from his strengths and talents, not from his limitations. Finding those strengths and motivations to work with are critical in the overall plan for development.


    Intellectual Functioning and Learning Styles and can be especially different for Autistic children. Autism spans the intellectual continuum. The learning process must match with the style; otherwise, motivation is lost and tension builds.


    Also, family dynamics and the nature of engagement among the other family members needs assessment. Developing the child with Autism is best dealt with as a team unit. Complicating this effort for many Autistic people is the lack of interpersonal understanding of subtle communication. Interactions in the family can be altered and often strained. This area of assessment will reveal what the most effective communication styles:

    • Social skills training
    • Empathy training
    • Nature of reinforcement
    • Structure of communication system
    • Basic awareness of effective styles  

Treatment Modalities

As the assessment process progresses, several treatment modalities will be implemented to make progress where areas of need are specified. Also, assessments will be repeated to note progress for the benefit of the patient and family to make innovations to the treatment plan and elevations in accomplished goals.
Please give the PNP Center a call and discuss how our team of healthcare professionals can help you and your family understand your child with Autism; how he/she learns , communicates, and functions as well as to find paths for optimal neurological, emotional and cognitive development.
2 Day Assessment $8995.00